The Cost and Output of Graduate Social Work Education: An Exploratory Study.

Cooper and Co., Stamford, CT.

This study of cost-sensitive factors and relationships in graduate social work education is a first step in developing concepts and research methodology as a basis for further research to aid administrators in making decisions for more effective use of resources. Identification of costs and cost-sensitive factors is approached within the framework of decision theory, since the problem of estimating costs for decision-making involves predicting future consequences of current decisions. Costs are only partially useful as an historical record of past expenditures and they provide a basis for improving effectiveness in achieving objectives only when viewed in terms of the kinds of decisions that must be made. The report recommends that the government initiate a national study to generate cost data and analysis, and to assist social work schools in transforming themselves into production operations. (BH)